Mixed Reality Studio at ACE Chalmers × Chalmers Next Labs Urban Analytics
Chalmers University of Technology is advancing its capabilities in digitalisation and urban innovation through the Mixed Reality (MR) Studio at the Division of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE). This initiative now enters a new phase through a collaboration with Chalmers Next Labs (CNL), where the studio will be operated within the Urban Analytics Lab as a platform for co-creation, experimentation, and external engagement.
The MR Studio has been initiated and developed within ACE by an interdisciplinary team combining expertise in immersive environments, urban analytics, and applied innovation. The initiative brings together Sanjay Somanath (creative direction and visualisation), Jorge Gil (Urban Data Analytics), Liane Thuvander (co-design) and Sara Abouebeid (use case development and collaborations), forming a strong foundation for bridging design, technology, and societal applications.
From Visualisation to Co-Creation
The Mixed Reality Studio enables immersive exploration of complex urban systems—transforming data, models, and scenarios into interactive experiences. Rather than simply visualising cities, the studio allows stakeholders to step inside digital twins, test ideas, and engage with future scenarios in a shared environment. This creates new opportunities for participatory processes and collaborative decision-making across domains such as energy systems, mobility, circularity, and spatial planning. By making data tangible and accessible, the studio supports a deeper understanding of trade-offs and system interactions.
A Platform Operated by Chalmers Next Labs
Through its integration into Chalmers Next Labs Urban Analytics, the MR Studio becomes an open platform for collaboration with industry, municipalities, startups, and public actors. CNL will organise workshops, co-creation sessions, and applied research activities, focusing on the development of digital layers of data visualisation and participation. The aim is to connect advanced research with real-world applications, enabling partners to explore, prototype, and validate new solutions in an immersive setting.
Towards Tangible Interfaces for Urban Systems
A central ambition of the collaboration is to move beyond visualisation towards tangible and interactive interfaces for urban systems. This includes:
- Real-time visualisation of energy, mobility, and environmental data
- Participatory tools for stakeholder and citizen engagement
- Scenario-based environments for planning and decision-making
- Immersive digital twins for districts, campuses, and developments
Open Call for Collaboration
The Mixed Reality Studio is now open to organisations interested in exploring new ways of interacting with urban data and systems.
We invite partners to collaborate on:
- Prototyping digital twin applications
- Developing data-driven services and interfaces
- Testing participatory planning approaches
- Creating new forms of communication and decision-support tools
This collaboration aims to bridge research, technology, and practice—turning data into shared experiences and enabling more informed, inclusive, and innovative urban development.